Guides

Guide · 8 min

Salary vs Hourly: Pros and Cons

Salaried jobs feel stable, hourly jobs offer overtime — but which actually pays more? A real comparison of the two compensation structures.

Guide · 10 min

Take-Home Pay: Everything You Need to Know

Federal, state, FICA, pre-tax deductions — a full breakdown of why your paycheck is smaller than your salary and what each line means.

Guide · 12 min

The Complete Salary Negotiation Guide for 2026

A complete playbook for negotiating salary in 2026 — research, scripts, timing, and the numbers that matter, written for U.S. workers.

News · 8 min

Pay Transparency Updates 2026

New states joined, federal pay transparency stalled, and FTC rules continue to evolve. The 2026 state of pay transparency, by jurisdiction.

News · 8 min

2026 Salary Trends Across Industries

Tech moderated, healthcare surged, finance held steady — a roundup of 2026 salary trends across major U.S. industries, based on BLS and industry sources.

Comparison · 10 min

Remote vs Hybrid vs Office: Comp Comparison

Three work arrangements, three pay philosophies. How remote pay tiers, hybrid expectations, and in-office premiums shape your real compensation.

Comparison · 11 min

Tech Salaries: Big Tech vs Startup

Big Tech offers $300k+ total comp at L4, startups offer $150k base + maybe-someday equity. A real comparison across base, bonus, equity, benefits, and stability.

Comparison · 9 min

Living in NYC vs SF: Real Salary Comparison

$250k in San Francisco vs $250k in New York — different states, different state taxes, similar housing costs. Which one nets more?

How-To · 9 min

How to Calculate Total Compensation

Base salary is just the tip. Total comp includes bonus, equity, 401(k) match, health insurance value, and more — here's how to add it all up.

How-To · 9 min

How to Negotiate a Raise

Most raises happen because someone asked. The 6-step process for documenting your value, picking the moment, and making the ask.

How-To · 10 min

How to Calculate Stock Option Worth

Spread, strike, FMV, ISO vs NSO, AMT — five concepts you need to value stock options correctly, with worked examples for each case.

How-To · 9 min

How to Calculate RSU Value at Vesting

RSUs become taxable income the moment they vest — at the market price that day. Here's the exact math, including the 22% withholding trap that surprises high earners.